Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is good for

Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) is one of Tokyo's largest and most popular parks. Located just a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the paid park's spacious lawns, meandering walking paths and tranquil scenery provide a relaxing escape from the busy urban center around it.

Why Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is special ?

Shinjuku Gyoen was constructed on the site of a private mansion belonging to Lord Naito, a "daimyo"(feudal lord) of the Edo era. Completed in 1906 as an imperial garden, it was re-designated as a national garden after the 2nd World War and opened to the public. 58.3 hectares(144 acres) in size and with a circumference of 3.5 km, it blends three distinct styles, French Formal, English Landscape and Japanese Traditional, and is considered to be one of the most important gardens from the Meiji era. From the cherry blossoms in spring to the soft greens of summer, the chrysanthemums and colorful leaves of autumn and the snowscapes of winter, Sinjuku Gyoen is an ideal place to get close to nature and enjoy the changing seasons. The present greenhouse complex, constructed during 1950, has a stock of more than 2400 brilliantly colorful tropical and subtropical species on permanent display.

What to explore at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden?

Shinjuku Gyoen is comprised of three different types of gardens:

The oldest is a traditional Japanese landscape garden featuring large ponds dotted with islands and bridges. Well manicured shrubs and trees surround the water together with several pavilions and the Kyu Goryotei (also called the Taiwan Pavilion) which was built on the occasion of the wedding of the Showa Emperor. A chrysanthemum exhibit is held during the first two weeks of November in the Japanese garden with flower displays and large, temporary pavilions erected around the grounds.

The park's other main gardens include a symmetrically arranged formal French garden, and an English landscape garden featuring wide, open lawns surrounded by flowering cherry trees. The rest of the park consists of forested areas, lawns and several structures including a restaurant, an information center and an art gallery. There is also a beautiful greenhouse with many tropical and subtropical flowers.

Shinjuku Gyoen is home to a large number of cherry trees of more than a dozen different varieties. From late March to early April, more than 400 somei yoshino trees blossom around the English garden turning the lawns into one of Tokyo's most popular and pleasant hanami spots. In addition, the park has numerous early and late blooming cherry trees which provide an extended cherry blossom viewing season (mid March to late April) for those who miss the main season.

Shinjuku Gyoen is also nice to visit during autumn when the leaves change. There are a lot of different types of trees that change colors around the park, however the maple trees are particularly beautiful and can be seen in large numbers around the Japanese garden and Momijiyama (maple mountain) on the park's eastern side. The colors typically appear from mid November to mid December.

How to get to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden?

Shinjuku Gyoen has three gates:

Shinjuku Gate is a ten minute walk east from the "New South Exit" of JR Shinjuku Station or a five minute walk from Shinjukugyoenmae Station on the Marunouchi Subway Line. Okido Gate is also a five minute walk from Shinjukugyoenmae Station on the Marunouchi Subway Line. Finally, Sendagaya Gate is a five minute walk from JR Sendagaya Station on the local Chuo/Sobu Line.

Location

Tips for you

There are food vendors in and outside the park but not many options for your choice.

Food

It is closed on Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday), December 29 to January 3. There are no closing days during the cherry blossom season (late March to late April) and the Chrysanthemum Exhibition (first half of November

Timming

Don't get too late for the last entry of this park is 16:00

Timming

A great place to view sakura and have picnic with family and friends. You can bring your own food.

Service

Alcohol is not allowed and the security will check your bags.

Rule

Reviews

I always feel a bit resentful of when I have to pay money to go to a park, but the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden remains the stand out memory of my trip to Tokyo. It was beautiful. We were lucky enough to be there when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom (apologies, I am writing this review a few months after we visited) and the were amazing. Added to this, walking along the little ponds and lakes and seeing the wooden bridges across the water was so peaceful. I especially loved the areas of the garden where the skyscrapers peeked over the trees, because it just made it more amazing that you could have this oasis of nature amongst the bustling city. Highly recommended. Visited May 2013